Joshrad's XJ Build Thread (slow) - Page 14

**joshrad** · 03-20-2011, 12:41 AM

Well, I've been pretty busy with school the last couple months and finally got some time to come on here again. Sadly the first time back in a while is to past some saddening pictures of what happened on my way to work today. Before I continue, I am fine and so is the other person. Some lady ran a red light right coming from my left as I entered the intersection causing the passenger side of her truck to smash the front of my XJ towards the passenger side. I have contact info for 3 witnesses, the police didn't show up because no one was injured, and the lady's insurance just expired. I tried calling my insurance but they're closed until Monday. What you can't tell from the pictures is the radiator emptied coolant/antifreeze every where. One of the witnesses helped me push it into a parking lot and out of the intersection. When the tow truck came I had to start it up to move it because there wasn't enough room to maneuver the tow truck and for the 30 seconds it was on it didn't sound like the radiator had smashed into the fan but sounded kinda like the shroud was rubbing. I didn't get a chance to take a good look at it or open the hood but the frame rails seem to be pretty straight and if i had to guess are maybe a 1/2" towards the passenger side. In a couple pics it looks like the front tires are messed up, but it's just because the wheel was still turned from guiding it into a parking spot.

Now for a couple pics:

bldeagle10 · 03-20-2011, 01:01 AM

^^^ i was gonna be a ****** and say, can i have your trail rated emblem but then i read it...

thats horrible. idk how i would handle that without going postal in the intersection.

glad you are ok though! what are your plans for it?

Paraleyes · 03-20-2011, 01:02 AM

Man, sorry to see that happen man. What are your plans with it? I might be interested in those tires for my bro. Maybe even your lights for me. Maybe you could part some things out to get some money in your pocket for replacement. Just throwing it out there. I hope it all works out in your favor and quickly too, whatever may come of it. Keep your head up!

bldeagle10 · 03-20-2011, 01:04 AM

you could part it, or if you know anybody at a body shop it may even be repairable. you can always straighten the frame. all depending on the level of sentiment you hold towards it. in my case thats what i would do.

Paraleyes · 03-20-2011, 01:05 AM

Oh and btw... I know the feeling! A state trooper's punk kid pulled out right smack in front of me while I was on a highway. The little shiite didn't even get a ticket.

Paraleyes · 03-20-2011, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bldeagle10

you could part it, or if you know anybody at a body shop it may even be repairable. you can always straighten the frame. all depending on the level of sentiment you hold towards it. in my case thats what i would do.

This is true. Say your insurance agent totals it, which he will if the frame is bent. -Well you could buy it back less the settlement and throw a salvage title on it. Shouldn't be too hard to get it back on the road.

**joshrad** · 03-20-2011, 01:12 AM

Well I haven't gotten a chance to talk to my insurance yet so I'm not sure what's going to happen. I was talking to my parent's and they're going to help me keep it or get a new one. They're pretty pissed off about the lady not having insurance and are thinking of trying to sue her for the money it'll cost to fix it. I'm going to try to keep it and get it repaired but if not, I'm going to get another one and swap as much over as I can. Sorry to those of you who can't help but be a vulture asking for parts before I even know what's going on with it

bldeagle10 · 03-20-2011, 01:14 AM

good deal! if i were you id do all i can to hold onto it. good luck and keep us posted on what happens with it

**joshrad** · 03-20-2011, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paraleyes

This is true. Say your insurance agent totals it, which he will if the frame is bent. -Well you could buy it back less the settlement and throw a salvage title on it. Shouldn't be too hard to get it back on the road.

About 20-ish years ago my dad got completely screwed over by our insurance company with his 70 z28 camaro where a fender got dented, my parent's are determined to not let them screw me over b/c it wasn't my fault and the lady's insurance expired so if that means suing her that's what's gonna happen. If that doesn't work, they'll help me pay for what I need help with.

**joshrad** · 03-20-2011, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bldeagle10

good deal! if i were you id do all i can to hold onto it. good luck and keep us posted on what happens with it

Thanks, and I will. I'm going to try as hard as I can to get it fixed up. I'd like to be able to get a little extra money to buy a winch bumper seeing as the brush guard is now scrap metal, or a giant paper weight.

Paraleyes · 03-20-2011, 01:27 AM

I hear you man. haha I'd much rather see you back on the road in either yours or a new XJ, but my bro needs tires too. Keep us up to date! Don't let your insurance agent screw you either! If they total it and offer you a settlement. Tell them you want to buy it back. I got mine back for free! Here's why:

Aftermarket equipment such as lift kits roof racks, etc... are not included in your policy, or at least they weren't in mine. So I brought that up and said I want to have them pull off my lift kit and give it back to me. It was only a budget boost(2" blocks and spacers). They said they would be willing to pay someone to pull it off. I came back and said okay, how much would that cost you? He put me on hold and then told me $400. This was roughly what they wanted me to buy it back for, so I said they should just give it to me and I'll pull it off myself. They did.

As far as suing goes, you don't have to. Your insurance agent will do it automatically. They lady will likely be served by the end of next week. None of this will effect you. Your insurance agent will want to settle with you ASAP to avoid any possible future settlements. What I mean by that is once you settle, you will be forced to sign a waiver saying you will not sue them for any further medical injuries and what not. You have all the power right now. Make sure you remember that. Don't let them screw you.

bldeagle10 · 03-20-2011, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paraleyes

I hear you man. haha I'd much rather see you back on the road in either yours or a new XJ, but my bro needs tires too. Keep us up to date! Don't let your insurance agent screw you either! If they total it and offer you a settlement. Tell them you want to buy it back. I got mine back for free! Here's why:

Aftermarket equipment such as lift kits roof racks, etc... are not included in your policy, or at least they weren't in mine. So I brought that up and said I want to have them pull off my lift kit and give it back to me. It was only a budget boost(2" blocks and spacers). They said they would be willing to pay someone to pull it off. I came back and said okay, how much would that cost you? He put me on hold and then told me $400. This was roughly what they wanted me to buy it back for, so I said they should just give it to me and I'll pull it off myself. They did.

As far as suing goes, you don't have to. Your insurance agent will do it automatically. They lady will likely be served by the end of next week. None of this will effect you. Your insurance agent will want to settle with you ASAP to avoid any possible future settlements. What I mean by that is once you settle, you will be forced to sign a waiver saying you will not sue them for any further medical injuries and what not. You have all the power right now. Make sure you remember that. Don't let them screw you.

oh dude thats smart. i just bought insurance for the first time today and i saw the option for "added accessories protection" or something like that. i debated about getting that in the future but it doesnt seem like a good idea after reading this

**joshrad** · 03-20-2011, 01:35 AM

I just can't wait until Monday to figure all this out. I'm just hoping I'll be able to get enough money to fix it and a little more to replace the brush guard with a winch bumper and get new fog lights since as far as I know are busted as well. With how much I spent on that brush guard I could have bought a winch bumper but I was in high school and didn't know about this forum yet, so b/c I have the receipt for it if I could somehow get money for that too it'd be awesome.

I'm also glad my dad is letting me drive his 88 MJ for now, so at least I'm still driving a Jeep.

bldeagle10 · 03-20-2011, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshrad

My new goal is to see exactly how much abuse that ****ing thing can take until I can replace it with a nice winch bumper

lol went back to read ur build and this made me giggle like a little german school girl

Paraleyes · 03-20-2011, 01:46 AM

Yeah, you just have to know how to talk to them. And actually read your policy! -All the fine print so that you understand all of it.

@Joshrad More on the settlement issue. Once they see your rig, they will want to discuss settlements with you. It is their job to get your signature as fast as possible. If you are in person, they will do everything in their power to get you to settle before you leave the office. If you are on the phone, they will do the same before letting you get off. Even if that means they have to put you on hold for a long time. Also, if you are sore AT ALL, you are completely within your rights to go get completely checked out medically. Not only must they pay for these medical bills, but this also makes your settlement higher. I don't understand completely how this works, but whatever medical bills you incur, incrementally increases the amount of settlement you are allotted. It's a weird system. My lawyer tried to explain it all to me, but I don't remember all of it. So if at any time you aren't sure about the settlement, just say you want to discuss it further with an attorney. There are tons of them out there that will see you for a free initial consult.